Ferrari has due to this fact placing within the work in Barcelona with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. On Tuesday, on the primary day of this three-day session on the stunning Montmelò circuit, the Scuderia’s drivers took turns behind the wheel of the SF-23. The Prancing Horse booked the Spanish observe to reap the benefits of TPC classes, assessments regulated by the Worldwide Federation, the place a number of guidelines should be adopted. These concern the automotive for use, the software program, the tires provided particularly by Pirelli, and the restricted mileage.
On this context, we can’t merely speak about mere coaching—it might be far too reductive. For sure, the restrictions imposed by the FIA make the job of an F1 workforce significantly extra difficult. That’s true. Nonetheless, there are numerous components that may be examined and, as such, show very helpful for the trigger. On Tuesday morning, Charles Leclerc centered a part of his session on learning the tires. We lined this matter intimately in a devoted article as a result of, though the tires are completely different, some insights can nonetheless be drawn.
Furthermore, there was a comparability relating to knowledge assortment with the simulator, a vital instrument in trendy F1 for assessing the accuracy of its correlation with real-world circumstances. This was a part of the work carried out by the Monegasque, who additionally regained a few of the confidence misplaced over the previous months in on-track motion. A really helpful coaching session in a number of respects, as he prepares for the true debut on the Bahrain pre-season assessments, the place the brand new automotive can be unveiled—hopefully showcasing its glorious basic traits within the Center East.
The scenario was barely completely different for the seven-time F1 world champion. The driving force from Stevenage is a veteran of the game’s prime class, with twenty years of expertise in single-seaters. Nevertheless, he can nonetheless be thought of a “rookie” in terms of his data of Ferrari—each when it comes to its vehicles and the distinctive method of the historic Italian workforce. Due to this fact, he must undergo a studying curve that may present him with the muse to compete with the Scuderia. Lewis is absolutely dedicated to this course of.
On Tuesday afternoon, throughout Ferrari’s second session, it was his flip to take to the observe. The British driver accomplished a number of runs, all the time on the wheel of the SF-23. Based on data gathered by the Italian media, Hamilton’s baseline setup differed barely from Leclerc’s. The general downforce degree was the identical however distributed otherwise. Hamilton’s driving fashion isn’t a “copy and paste” of Leclerc’s. There are similarities, positive, however some features are distinctly completely different between the 2.
To start with, the British driver’s dealing with could be very easy, resembling that of former Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz. The ex-Mercedes driver additionally prefers a really steady rear finish, whereas Charles, on a number of events, has proven he can handle a extra nervous rear if the advantages outweigh the downsides. Throughout his laps, along with simulating a typical race weekend work program, Lewis paid specific consideration to braking phases. He particularly centered on trail-braking, a crucial method utilized by all F1 drivers.
Within the case of the British driver, it was essential to deepen his preliminary method to Brembo brakes. This entails a exact braking method: making use of heavy strain on the pedal earlier than steadily releasing it because the automotive enters the nook. On the similar time, Hamilton studied the “trailing throttle” to additional stabilize the automotive with a slight quantity of throttle open. Charles is a real grasp of this system, often utilizing it in lots of qualifying classes final season. Weight distribution in corners is essential and was a part of Lewis’s coaching.
The seven-time Method 1 world champion additionally labored on the automotive’s setup and follow begins. The beginning system is completely different from Mercedes’, with a definite use of the paddles situated on the rear of the steering wheel. Moreover, he skilled on the varied energy unit modes, together with engine mapping for the interior combustion engine and the hybrid system of Ferrari’s energy unit, designated 066/12. On the finish of his second day driving a Ferrari, Hamilton was as soon as once more glad.
The suggestions supplied to the workforce was extremely optimistic as he appears ahead to testing the SF-24 subsequent week, adopted by runs with the newest piece of aero-mechanical engineering from the Maranello squad. The total trackside workforce was not current, however distant assist from Maranello was out there.
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